1. Proposal to Merge the College of Science and Mathematics, and the School of
Polytechnic StudiesRosati explained that the proposal to merge the College of Science and Mathematics,
and the School of Polytechnic Studies was going through the steps laid out in the
Academic Restructuring Procedures, and was now brought forward to Academic Council
for consideration. Based on those procedures, three affected departments were in attendance
to present their positions on the merger proposal. Rosati explained that the Council
would hear from those parties, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each proposal,
and would vote whether each proposal was acceptable or unacceptable.

Rosati began with a review of the original proposal, to merge the College of Science
and Mathematics, and the School of Polytechnic Studies, to the College of Science,
Technology and Agriculture. He explained that the basis of the proposal was cost savings,
including the salaries of the Dean and Administrative Assistant, and estimated the
savings in the range of $220,000-$250,000. He added that there would be some initial
additional costs, in printing new letterhead, stationary, banners, signage, etc.

McDougall pointed out that the additional costs will be incurred with any of the proposals,
including the already Board of Regents approved move to the College of Polytechnic
and Agricultural Studies. Jung stated that the Faculty Senate Executive Committee
asked him to bring up the question of committee representation with a merger; Rosati
responded that if a merger takes place, and a committee’s membership charge states
that there will be one faculty per college, then the new college would only have one
representative. He added that Academic Council could recommend to the Faculty Senate,
University Standing Committees, and Student Government Association that they revise
their membership charges to have equal representation, but could only recommend. Rosati
also pointed out that regarding promotion and tenure, the departmental level guidelines
would not be affected, but the makeup of the College level committee would be different.
He also pointed out that budgets would remain the same. Scott added that after speaking
to students, she found that one Agriculture student was concerned about the budgets
to auxiliaries, like the greenhouse or farm, while another student (non-major) was
concerned for the degrees being minimized if there was a merger to a College, rather
than a School.

McGowan noted that in addition to the original proposal, there were two other proposals
that had come forward through the process from the College of Science and Mathematics
College Council, and from the School of Polytechnic Studies School Council. The College
of Science and Mathematics proposal was to keep the College of Science and Mathematics
as is, including keeping the Computer Science Department in the College, with Dr.
Jai Dahiya as Associate Dean with no release time; the School of Polytechnic and Agricultural
Studies would be under the College of Science and Mathematics, with a half-time Director/Associate
Dean (akin to the makeup of the current College of Liberal Arts, and School of Visual
and Performing Arts). The School of Polytechnic Studies proposal was to keep the College
of Science and Mathematics name, and have a separate College of Polytechnic and Agricultural
Studies, including the Computer Science Department, as is scheduled to be implemented
in Summer 2012; McGowan would serve as joint dean for both colleges, and each college
would have an associate dean.

Rosati asked Dr. David Probst to present the Department of Computer Science’s position
on the proposal. Probst stated that the Department of Computer Science prefers to
go with the original proposal of a College of Science, Technology and Agriculture,
as they feel it has a higher level of synergy. However, if a different proposal is
recommended, the Department prefers to stay aligned with the sciences and mathematics.
Rosati thanked Probst.

Rosati asked Dr. Doug Koch to present the Department of Industrial and Engineering
Technology’s position. Koch stated that there are many studies on mergers, and most
mergers take placed during budget cuts. He said that valid concerns during mergers
are a loss of autonomy, resources, and collaboration. He pointed out that the Department
of Industrial and Engineering Technology (Polytech) has seen tremendous growth, funding
growth, has exceeded their student credit hour ratio expectation, is actively engaged
in collaborations with several departments on campus, has had several new degrees
and options, and continues to hold accreditations from two accrediting bodies. He
reiterated that the Department proposed to maintain separate colleges, as has already
been approved by the Board of Regents, with a cost savings by appointing McGowan as
joint dean. Rosati thanked Koch.

Rosati asked Dr. Michael Aide to present the Department of Agriculture’s position.
Aide stated that the Department’s proposal was virtually identical to Polytech’s proposal.
He pointed out that the Department has seen a 55% increase in majors over four years.
He also stated that the success of the Department is due to the current structure,
of Agriculture and Polytech as departments in one unit. He noted that the faculty
of the departments have a collective mindset, and that the departments have a culture
that has made them successful. Rosati thanked Aide.

Rosati reviewed the three proposals with the Council. He also gave the Council data
on number of faculty and students in each college/school as it stands now: College
of Business has 51 faculty and 1,700 students; College of Education has 39 faculty
and 1,900 students; College of Health and Human Services has 79 faculty and 3,000
students; College of Liberal Arts has 134 faculty and 2,500 students; School of Polytechnic
Studies has 24 faculty and 1,000 students; and the College of Science and Mathematics
has 67 faculty and 1,500 students.

Rosati asked the Council to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each proposal.

For the first proposal, to merge the College of Science and Mathematics and the School
of Polytechnic Studies to the “College of Science, Technology and Agriculture,” the
advantages noted were: cost savings, political advantage having Agriculture in the
title, simplest structure, ease of hiring one dean; disadvantages noted were: less
faculty representation, departments perceive a loss of autonomy, Mathematics is not
in the title, possible political implication of going back to the Board of Regents
after they’ve already approved a College; promotion and tenure college level committee
makeup; two affected departments aren’t in favor of proposal.

For the second proposal, to keep the College of Science and Mathematics, including
Computer Science Department, and form the School of Polytechnic and Agricultural Studies
under the College, the advantages noted were: cost savings, having Agricultural in
the title of the School, keeps Mathematics in the title of the College, preserves
faculty representation, promotion and tenure college and school level committee makeup
would stay the same, ease of hiring one dean, and we currently have the same model
on campus with the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Visual and Performing
Arts; disadvantages noted were: the associate dean for the School would come from
one of two departments.

For the third proposal, to have a separate College of Science and Mathematics, and
a College of Polytechnic and Agricultural Studies (including Computer Science Department),
the advantages noted were: keeps autonomy, budgets remain, promotion and tenure college
committee makeup would remain, goes along with the already approved Board of Regents
decision, and has the strongest faculty buy-in from two affected departments; disadvantages
noted were: could diminish the dean’s effectiveness, strange organization to outsiders,
and pressure to hire two deans.

McDougall moved approval of adding a fourth model, to keep the College of Science
and Mathematics, and have the School of Polytechnic and Agricultural Studies under
the College, but move the Computer Science Department to the School; seconded by Scott.
Discussion followed. Koch noted that Polytech already has a collaborative relationship
with Computer Science, and will continue with that regardless of them being in the
same unit. McMillan added that from a human resources perspective, it’s best to keep
the department (Computer Science) happy, i.e., keep them with the sciences and mathematics.
Eight members were in favor of adding the model, and eight were against; Rosati accepted
adding the proposal for consideration.

After further discussion, Randolph moved approval of adding a fifth model, to keep
the College of Science and Mathematics with McGowan as dean, and a College of Polytechnic
and Agricultural Studies, including the Computer Science Department as is expected
to be implemented in Summer 2012 with McGowan as interim dean. With that model, there
would be two associate deans. Ten members were in favor of adding the model, and eight
were against. The motion passed.

Rosati stated that the Council would vote either “acceptable” or “unacceptable” on
each proposal. The results were (Models are listed out of sequential order from the
minutes, for better visual flow):

Model #1 - College of Science, Technology and Agriculture – 9 acceptable, 7 unacceptable;
Model #2 - College of Science and Mathematics (including Computer Science) with School
of Polytechnic and Agricultural Studies under College – 15 acceptable, 2 unacceptable;

Model #3 - College of Science and Mathematics and School of Polytechnic and Agricultural
Studies (including Computer Science) – 6 acceptable, 12 unacceptable;

Model #4 - College of Science and Mathematics, and College of Polytechnic and Agricultural
Studies (including Computer Science) – 5 acceptable, 10 unacceptable;

Model #5 - College of Science and Mathematics and College of Polytechnic and Agricultural
Studies (including Computer Science) – 9 acceptable; 7 unacceptable.

Rosati thanked the presenters and all faculty and staff for attending the meeting.
He explained that he would receive a report from the Academic Council on their considerations,
and would then, within five days, submit his recommendation to the President.

2. SLO Q2 Committee’s Recommended Revision to Syllabus TemplateRosati explained that the syllabus template needs to be revised to include Student
Learning Outcomes, to bring us into compliance with HLC criteria. Eddleman moved approval
of the syllabus template, as the SLO Q2 Committee had revised it; seconded by McDougall/McMillan.
Randolph questioned the moratorium that was passed at the February 2012 meeting; Rosati
reiterated that the moratorium is on new courses. Eddleman explained that revised
courses had been submitted for approval the Graduate Council and he’d sent them back
to include the SLO’s before submission to Graduate Council. Starrett explained the
revisions by the SLO Q2 Committee to the syllabus template; they added the SLO component
with a minimum of three outcomes. Starrett added that there is currently no instruction
sheet for the template, but that guidelines will be given to faculty for SLO’s. Further
discussion followed. Eddleman will take the issue to the Faculty Senate Academic Affairs
Committee and ask for a recommendation for expediting the process to revise all syllabi
to include SLO’s. McDougall questioned whether there is a different template for graduate
courses. McGowan moved approval to table the revision of the syllabus template; seconded
by McMillan. Motion to table passed unanimously.

C. DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. Memo to Chairpersons regarding SLO’sStarrett distributed a memo to the Chairpersons regarding SLO’s and how/whether departments
are already assessing SLO’s. The deadline for chairs to return the memo to Starrett
is February 22nd; he asked that the deans please ask their chairs to get the memo
back to him as soon as possible.